SSC awarded 2.26M€ contract by ESA for second phase of the optical ground network initiative NODES
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has been awarded a 2.26M€ contract by the European Space Agency (ESA), with the support of the Swedish National Space Agency, under its ARTES Scylight programme for the second phase of the optical communication project NODES. This contract will support the implementation, test and demonstration of an optical network, to be carried out during 2023-2025, including the commissioning of a second optical ground station in the network.
The NODES project (Network of Optical stations for Data transfer to Earth from Space) is set to develop a direct-to-Earth data reception service based on free-space optical communication. The activity was initiated in 2022 and since then has passed two significant milestones. The System Requirements Review was achieved in October 2022, and the Preliminary Design Review was successfully completed at the end of March 2023. The first optical ground station of NODES will be delivered by Cailabs and installed at the SSC site in Western Australia (WASC) later this year.
The ambitious goal of NODES is to develop and demonstrate a highly automated data reception service based on optical communication with at least two optical ground stations. Additional optical ground stations will be added to the global network to provide a full optical data service when the concept is proven.
SSC has recently been awarded a contract of further support from ESA for the continuation of the project with two additional development phases. This includes the implementation, testing, verification and demonstration of the future service, as well as the commissioning of a second optical ground station in the network, which will be installed at a different SSC site towards the end of 2024.
“Free-space laser communication is a promising future technology which aims to solve the data transfer limitations from space to ground in a secure and power-efficient way. We are delighted and grateful for ESA’s continued support and quality assurance towards a realisation of this capability through the NODES project,” says Hanna Sundberg, SSC Lead System Architect Optical Communications and Project Manager for the NODES project.
Contact: Philip Ohlsson, SSC Head of Communications, +46 (0)70 721 70 26, philip.ohlsson@sscspace.com
About SSC: Swedish Space Corporation helps Earth benefit from Space. Since the 70’s, SSC has helped space organizations, companies, other commercial actors and research institutes to get access to Space. Our products and services enable successful space projects within Earth observation, telecommunications, security, meteorology, navigation and positioning, scientific research and other applications. Through our local presence on all continents and more than 600 committed employees, we offer specialist expertise in satellite communications, spacecraft operations, rocket and balloon systems, launch services, flight test services and data analytics. Among our strongest assets are Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, set to become first to launch satellites from continental Europe in 2023, as well as one of the world's largest commercial ground station networks for satellite communications. Via our subsidiary GlobalTrust, we also leverage satellite data and analytics applications to help companies, organizations and governments to develop and deliver sustainability strategies. https://sscspace.com/
About ESA’s ARTES ScyLight Programme: ScyLight is an ESA strategic programme line dedicated to optical communications, photonics and quantum communication and sits within ESA’s ARTES 4.0, the Agency’s main programme for technology developments in the field of satellite communications. ARTES seeks to keep European and Canadian industry at the leading edge of this fiercely competitive global market by nurturing innovation. ScyLight aims to address the development, demonstration and utilisation of innovative optical and quantum technologies for satellite communication as well as preparing for new market opportunities and to support industry to develop/extend its manufacturing capabilities and seize related market opportunities.
